Linkage system for a wave-signal receiver of the tilt-out type



March 1952 E. J. POLLEY LINKAGE SYSTEM FOR A WAVE-SIGNAL RECEIVER OF THETILT-OUT TYPE Filed June 10, 1950 EUGENE J. POLLEY INVENTOR.

/-//s ATTOR/VE Patented Mar. 18, 1952 LINKAGE SYSTEM FOR A WAVE-SIGNALRECEIVER OF THE TILT- OUT TYPE Eugene J. Policy, Berwyn, Ill., assignorto Zenith Radio Corporation, a corporation of Illinois Application June10, 1950, Serial No. 167,475

7 Claims.

This invention relates to a wave-signal receiver of the tilt-out typeand more particularly to an improved linkage system for supporting achassis compartment within a cabinet for movement from an initialposition to either an operating or a servicing position outside thecabinet.

v One known form of tilt-out arrangement for a wave-signal receiverincludes a chassis-containing compartment in the nature of a'rectangularbox of four sides that is movably supported within a cabinet. One sideof the compartment is coplanar with the front face of the cabinet whenthe compartment is in an initial or nonoperating position within thecabinet, and the uppermost side of the compartment constitutes a controlpanel on which the indicator scale and the several control knobs-of aradio receiver are mounted. A tilt-out system of this type is disclosedin Patent 2,447,572 of Kurt Emde which is assigned to the same assigneeas the present invention. As pointed out in that patent, in order toutilize the least amount of cabinet space for displacing the chassiscompartment to its opcrating position, it is preferable that thecompartment initially move in translation, like the The linkage systemof the afore-mentioned' Emde patent provides the required movement ofthe chassis-containing compartment between its initial and operatingpositions. It has been found, however, that in this arrangementservicing of the radio chassis is difiicult especially when it isnecessary to remove or install the chassis since the chassis is notsufficiently accessible in either of the two available positions of themovable compartment. In the initial position, the walls of the cabinetsubstantially completely enclose the chassis and its compartment, whilein the operating position the compartment walls prevent free access tothe chassis.

It is an object of this invention, therefore, to provide an improvedlinkage system for movably supporting a chassis-containing compartmentin a tilt-out type of cabinet and which avoids the servicing limitationof the afore-described arrangement.

It is a further object of the invention to provide a'n'improved linkagesystem for supporting a cha'ssisbompartment for movement from an initialposition within a tilt-out type of cabinet to either an operating or aservicing position outside of the cabinet, the servicing positionfacilitating access to the chassis.

The linkage system in accordance with the invention is adapted forinclusion in a tilt-out type of wave-signal receiver which includes anapertured cabinet and a chassis-containing compartment for supportingthe compartment for movement from an initial position within the cabinetto either an operating or a servicing position outside of the cabinet.The linkage system comprises a first link pivoted at one end to a pointon the compartment below and behind the center of gravity when thecompartment is in its initial position. The first link is pivoted at itsother end to a point of the cabinet above the center of gravity of thecompartment and behind the firstmentioned point. The system furtherincludes a second link pivoted at one end to a point on the cabinetbelow and in front of the center of gravity of the compartment andpivoted at its opposite end to a point of the compartment displacedvertically and to one side of the lastmentioned point of the cabinet.

The features of the present invention which are believed to be novel areset forth with particularity in the appended claims. The presentinvention itself, both as to its organization and manner of operation,together with further objects and advantages thereof may best beunderstood by reference to the following description taken in connectionwith the accompanying drawing in which:

Fig. l is a cross-sectional side elevation of a tilt-out type of cabinetfor a wave-signal receiver including a linkage system in accordance withthe present invention; and

Fig. 2 represents a modified arrangement of a locking system for thecabinet shown in Fig. 1.

With reference now to Fig. 1, the tilt-out type of wave-signal receiverthere represented includes a cabinet structure l0 having a front panelll provided with an aperture I2 for receiving a chassis-containingcompartment IS. The compartment I3 is supported within cabinet 10 by alinkage system l4, constructed in accordance with the invention, formovement from an initial position within the cabinet as shown in fulllines to either an operating position shown in dash-dot lines or aservicing position shown in dash-dotdot lines, both of the latterpositions being substantially outside of the cabinet.

Neglecting for a moment the details of linkage system I4, compartment I3is comprised of a front panel I5, the exposed surface of which is in theplane of cabinet panel II when the compartment is in its initialposition, and a control panel I6 which is normal to the front panel. Thepanels I5 and I6 together with a pair of side members, of which only onedesignated I1 is shown, define a substantially rectangular box orenclosure and a chassis I8, shown in outline, is supported at theuppermost and foremost confines of the enclosure. The chassis includesthe usual components constituting the electrical circuits of thereceiver, the details of which are well known and need not be described.

The control panel I6 supports an escutcheon is, that is associated witha tuning scale, and a cooperating movable pointer coupled to the tuningdevice of the chassis III to provide the usual means for indicating thetuning condition of the receiver. Knob represents one of the severalcontrol knobs, customarily positioned on control panel It forftuningcontrol, volume and tone control et cetera.

A'handle III is aiiixed to front panel I5 to provide a convenientmeansfor manually displacing compartment 'I3 from its initial position to thereceiver operating position in which .the linkage system has tilted thecompartment essentially. out'of the cabinet. In order to preventinadvertent movement "of the compartment beyond the operating position,means are provided for releasably locking the compartment in theoperating position. Specifically, this includes a stop abutment 22afiixed to the side of the cabinet and'a stop element 23 mounted at therear of compartment-side l1. Engagement of the members 22 and 23prevents movement of compartment I3 beyond the dash-dot position. Inorder to efiect further movement, stop element 23 is manually deflectedclear of stop abutment 22. This may be accomplished by releasablyholding stop element 23 in its locking position by means of a wing nutthat may be easily releasedrto permit the removal of element 23 from itslocking position.

With reference now to the linkage system of the instant invention, apair of similar linkages are usually provided, one being positioned oneach side of the; chassis compartment. Since these linkages areidentical in construction only one need be described in detail,

Thelinkage system comprises a first, fiat, elongated," link 25 pivotedat one end to a point 26a'on compartment I3 below and behind the centerof gravity, designated X, of the compartment when it is in its initialposition. The pivot point 28a on the compartment is provided in oneextremity 26 of a triangularly-shaped mounting plate 21 affixed to theside wall II. The extremity 26 is situated beyond the rear-most andlowermost portion of the compartment and the end link 25 is looselyriveted thereto. The other end of link 25 is pivoted to a point 29a fthe cabinet above the center of gravity X and behind the first-mentionedpivot point 26a by means of a mounting plate 29 loosely riveted to'thisextremity of the link 25 and afiixed to the cabinet wall.

A second, flat link which includes a pair of legs defining an angle lessthan 90 is pivotedat the free end of one of the legs to a point 2.3a oncompartmentl3 below and in front of the center of gravity X. This pivotpoint is provided in the extremity 28 of mounting plate 21 to which link30 is loosely pivoted. The free end of the other leg of link 30 ispivoted to a 4 point 3Ia, on cabinet I0 in front of the pivot point 28athrough a suitable mounting plate 3I that is pivotally connected to linkso and is affixed to the cabinet side. The pivot points at the ends oflink 30 are displaced vertically with respect to one another and theterm vertically as used here refers to both upward and downwarddirections along a vertical line.

Since link 30 is angular in form, it has an effective length, defined bya line through its end pivots, that is shorter than its actual length.This effective length of link 30 is also shorter than the length of link25. The link 33 is disposed with the junction of its legs positionedwithin the cabinet when compartment I3 is in its initial position. Theangle between the legs of link 30 is so arranged that the ,portion ofthe link included between the junction of its legs and the pivot 3Ia iswithin the confines of the cabinet in all positions of the compartment.By this provision, opening I2 of the cabinet II] need not be extended toaccommodate the movement of link 30 since its angular constructionallows the link to operate through opening I2. The displacement of thepivot points 26a and 28a on the compartment and the efiective lengths ofthe links 25 and 30 are so proportioned relative to the depth and heightof compartment I3 that the compartment is efiectively free of thecabinet when the linkage system is in a reference position in which link25 is substantially aligned with the cabinet-pivot 3la of link 30.Further, the compartment-pivot point 28a of link 30 in all operatingconditions of the linkage system remains on the same side of the linebetween the pivot points 29a and 3Ia. In one position of thecompartment, link 25 is aligned with pivot 28a of link 30 and the elbowof link 32 remains to the cabinet side of this reference line throughlink 25 and pivot 28a for all operating conditions of the linkagesystem.

In the initial position of compartment I3 its center of gravity X isbetween the cabinetpivot points 29a and 3Ia of links 25 and 30.Additionally, in this position links 25 and 30 tend to move in downwarddirections along their respective arcuate paths of travel and thecompartment I3 is ina stable position, tending to remain within theconfines of cabinet III. In order to displace compartment I3 to itsoperating position, handle 2| is grasped and a pulling force is exertedmanually in a direction away from the cabinet. With regard to theinitial phase of movement of the compartment, the line through thepivots of link 30 is approximately parallel with link 25 andconsequently the initial motion of the compartment is essentially intranslation. As this parallelism decreases, the motion of unit I3changes to that of a combined translation and rotation. The rotationalcomponent is rather small until the compartment is approximately halfway out of the cabinet at which time a substantial rotational movementis efiected. This final movement is arrested due to the engagement ofthe stop devices 22, 23, which brings the compartment to rest in itsoperating position indicated by dash-dot constructionlines. It will benoted that in this position the center of gravity of compartment I3 isoutside a vertical line drawn through the cabinet pivot am of link 33,Consequently, the compartment tends to remain in a stable position withthe stop elements 22, 23 preventing. further movement. The cabinet I3thus is placed in its 'operating'positionwith control panel I3 exposedto view and acces- If access to chassis I8 is required for any reason,for servicing for example, the stop element 23- is-loosened anddeflected to clear abutment 22. The compartment l3 may then be manuallydisplaced completely outside the confines of the cabinet and becauseofthearrangement of the linkage system M, a tumbling action is effected,causing the compartment to be rotated to a position essentially at rightangles to its initial position, as shown by the dash-dot-dot outline. In

displacing compartment l3 from its operating to its servicing position,the center of gravity is raised only slightly so that this movement maybe accomplished with very little efiort. The compartment is stable inthe servicing 'positionland Cabinet l 16 inches deep Opening l2 andpanel I5 12 inches high Panel [6 10% inches high Link 25, distancebetween pivots 26a and 29a 12 inches Line 30, straight-line distancebetween pivots 28a and 3m 6 inches Angle between the legs 53 Location ofpivot points in terms of the normal distances from the front face ofcabinet panel II and from the under surface of the top portion ofcabinet ID, with compartment I3 in its initial position,

. 'Top of Cabi- Pivot Point not 10 Panel l1 26a 13 inches. 10%inches.28a 10%incl1cs 2% inches. 291; linch 12%inclics. 31a 16 inches linch.

Fig. 2 represents a portion of the receiver of Fig. 1 and like elementsare designated by identical reference numerals. This figure shows amodified stop arrangement which is more easily manipulated than that ofFig. 1. A stop element 35 is affixed to the uppermost and rearmostportion of compartment-side I1 and extends upwardly substantially to thesurface of control panel l6. A cooperating stop abutment 36 is affixedto the under side of the top portion of cabinet l0 and extendsrearwardly. Abutment 36 is formed of a length of leaf-spring materialand is arranged to be normally biased in the position shown. CompartmentI3 is represented in the operating position in which stop element 35engages the free end of abutment 36 thereby preventing further outwardmovement of the compartment. In order to displace the chassiscompartmentto its servicing position, a tool, such as a screw driver, is insertedin opening [2 into engagement with spring abutment 36 to displace thespring upwardly and free element 35 *for travel in a forward direction.After element 35 clears abutment 36, the abutment returns to its normalposition. When compartment I3 is returned into cabinet l0, element 35slides past abutment 36 which then remains in its normal lockingposition.

While a particular embodiment of the present invention has been shownand described, it will be obvious to those skilled in the art thatchanges and modifications may be made without departing from thisinvention in its broader aspects, and, therefore, the aim in theappended claims is to cover all suchchanges and modifications as fallwithin the true spirit and scope of this invention.

I claim:

1; In a tilt-out type of wave-signal receiver including an aperturedcabinet and a chassis-containing compartment, a linkage systemsupporting said compartment for movement from an initial position withinsaid cabinet to either an operating or a servicing position outside ofsaid cabinet, said linkage system comprising: a first link pivoted atone end to a point on said compartment below and behind the center ofgravity when said compartment is in said initial position and pivoted atits other end to a point of said cabinet above said center of gravityand behind said first-mentioned point; and a second link pivoted at oneend to a point on said cabinet below and in front of said center ofgravity and pivoted at its opposite end to a point of said compartmentdisplaced vertically and to one side of said last-mentioned'point ofsaid cabinet.

2. In a tilt-out type of wave-signal receiver including an aperturedcabinet and a chassis-containing compartment, a linkage systemsupporting said compartment for movement from an initial position withinsaid cabinet to either an operating or a servicing position outside ofsaid cabinet, said linkage system comprising: a first link piv-= oted atone end to a point on said compartment below and behind the center ofgravity when said compartment is in said initial position and pivoted atits other end to a point of said cabinet above said center of gravityand behind said firstmentioned point; and a second link, having. aneffective length shorter than said first link, pivoted at one end to apoint on said cabinet below and in front of said center of gravity andpivoted at its opposite end to a point of said compartment displacedvertically and to one side of said lastmentioned point of said cabinet.

3. In a tilt-out type of wave-signal receiver including an aperturedcabinet and a chassis-containing compartment a linkage system supportingsaid compartment for movement from an initial position Within saidcabinet to either an operating or a servicing position outside of saidcabinet, said linkage system comprising: a first link pivoted at one endto a point on said compartment below and behind the center of gravitywhen said compartment is in said initial position and pivoted at itsother end to a point of said cabinet above said center of gravity andbehind said first-mentioned point; and a second link, including pair oflegs defining an angle less than pivoted at the free end of one leg to apoint on said compartment below and in front of said center of gravityand pivoted at the free end of the other leg to a point of said cabinetbelow and in front of said lastmentioned point of said compartment, saidlink being disposed with the junction of said legs positioned withinsaid cabinet when said compartm at is. in ts initial po.

sition so that the port on of said second link ncluded between sa d uncion and said other end is always within the confines of said cabinetwhen said compartment is-displaced to its operating and servicingpositions.

a. In a tilt-out type of wave-signal receiver including an aperturedcabinet and a chassis-contaming compartment a linkage system supportingsaid compartment for movement from an initial position within saidcabinet to either an operating or a servicing position outside of saidcabinet. said linkag system c mpr si a first link. pivoted at one end toa point on said compartment below and behind the center of gravity whensaid compartment is in said initial position and pivoted at its otherend to a point of said cabinet above said center of gravity and behindsaid first-mentioned point; and a se nd lin p oted at one end t a p t onsaid abine b low and in front of said center of gravity and ivoted atits opposite end to a point. of said compartment displaced verticallyand to one side of said last-mentioned point of said cabinet, thedisplacement of said points on said compartment and the effective,lengths of said links being so proportioned relative to the depth andheight of said compartment that said compartment is efiectively free ofsaid cabinet when said linkage system is in a reference position inwhich said first link is aligned with said cabinet-pivot point of saidsecond link.

5. In a tilt-out type of wave-signal receiver including an aperturedcabinet and a chassis-com taining compartment, a linkage systemsupporting said compartment for movement from an initial position withinsaid cabinet to either an operating or a servicing position outside ofsaid cabinet, said linkage system comprising: a first link pivoted atoneend to a point on said compartment below and behind the center ofgravity when said compartment is in said initial position and pivoted atits other end to a point of said cabinet above said center of gravityand behind said first-mentioned point; and a second link pivoted at oneend to a point on said cabinet below and in front of said center ofgravity and pivoted at its opposite end to a point of said compartmentdisplaced vertically and to one side of said lastmentioned point of saidcabinet, the displacement of said points on said compartment and theeifective lengths of said links being so proportioned relative to thedepth and height of said compartment that said compartment iseffectively free of said cabinet When said linkage system is in areference position in which said first link is aligned with saidcabinet-pivot point of said second link and said compartment-pivot pointof said second link in allqperating conditions of said linkage systemremains on the same side of the line between the cabinet pivots of saidfirst and second links.

6e In a tiltut ty e of w eal ce ri clu ine an ture n t and a chass-containing compartment, a linkage system supporting said compartmentfor movement from an initial position within said cabinet to either anoperating or a servicing position outside of said cabinet, said linkagesystem comprising: a first link pivoted at one end to a point on saidcompartment below and behind the center of gravity when said compartmentis in said initial position and pivoted at its other end to point ofsaid cabinet. above said center of gravity and behind saidfirst-mentioned point; a second link pivoted at one end to a point onsaid cabinet below and in front of said center of gravity and pivoted atits opposite end to a point of said compartment displaced vertically andto one side of said last-mentioned point of said cabinet; and means forreleasably locking said compartment in an operating position in whichsaid linkage system has tilted said compartment essentially out of saidcabinet.

'7. In a tilt-out type of wave-signal receiver including an aperturedcabinet and a chassis-containing compartment, a linkage systemsupporting said compartment for movement from an initial position withinsaid cabinet to either an operating or a servicing position outside ofsaid cabinet, said linkage system comprising: a first link pivoted atone end to a point on said compartment below and behind the center ofgravity when said compartment is in said initial position and pivoted atits other end to a point of said cabinet above said center of gravityand behind said first-mentioned point; a second link pivoted at one endto a point on said compartment below and in front of said center ofgravity and pivoted at its opposite end to a point of said cabinet belowand in front of said last-mentioned point of said compartment, thedisplacement of said points on said compartment and the effectivelengths of said links being so proportioned relative to the depth andheightof said compartment that said compartment is effectively free ofsaid cabinet when said linkage system is in a reference position inwhich said first link is aligned with said cabinet-pivot point of saidsecond link; and means for releasably locking said compartment in anoperating position in which said linkage system has tilted saidcompartment essentially out of said cabinet.

EUGENE J. POLLEY.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the fileo-f'this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,682,695 Miner Aug. 28, 1928 72,447,572 Emde Aug. 24, 1948

